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Lakeview runners serious about state
The Bulldogs have a good mix of young runners and talented veterans.
CORTLAND — Lakeview High’s boys cross country program has close relationships built on trust and respect.
That style has three senior veterans — three-year lettermen Tyler Ames, Heath Harris and Sam Jenkins — serious about their goals trying to get the Bulldogs to the Division II state meet in November.
The Bulldogs were fourth at this week’s Suburban League Championships.
“We always look to do well at the county meet,” said Jenkins, referring to Tuesday’s Trumbull County race, “and then just have a nice performance at region where we want to crack the top 10.”
Ames said, “We were 15th at the regional last year. The Northeastern region is a running powerhouse so we are going to try and do the best we can to get out of there.”
Lakeview’s younger runners have worked hard and improved, Ames said.
“We’ll see where that gets us,” he said.
Harris said, “Everybody worked hard throughout the summer and improved their times. I had an injury in July, but it’s all right now and I am running where I want to be at this time and it’s all I can ask for.”
Lakeview’s three seniors have been running together since junior high. The friendly competition makes them better, Coach Sean Vohries said..
“They are three of the most coachable athletes I’ve ever had and they’ve been friends since grade school,” Vorhies said. “They play video games together and actually tailgate before football games.”
The three are in the top 15 of the area’s best cross country times.
A second baseman/relief pitcher, Jenkins will play baseball and compete in track this spring.
He carries a 3.8 grade point average and is a member of the National Honor Society. He started running cross country in the seventh grade.
“We get along well and back up and encourage each other when we aren’t doing as well as we would like to,” Jenkins said. “Coach Vohries strives to see us do better.
“He goes home at night and thinks about us and comes the next day with a plan, mapping out what we’ll do at big races.”
The Division II regional race is almost as difficult as the Division I competition, particularly because of strong programs such as Woodridge, Perry, Crestwood and Akron St. Vincent-St. Mary, Jenkins said.
“We would like to finish third or fourth at region and to do that we’ll have to run together as a pack,” he said.
Harris, who carries a 4.0 GPA, plans on going to college and is looking at Case-Western Reserve. He’s also a member of NHS and was third at the Suburban League Championships (17:01).
Ames, placing fifth, set the school record (15 minutes, 59 seconds) at Tiffin earlier this year. He finished third in the heavy rain at the Spartan Invitational (17:27) and was second at the Suburban League Championships (16:49). He carries a 4.0 GPA and is on the Lakeview Student Council executive committee. He’s vice president of NHS, belongs to the Spanish Club, Senior Beta Club and is sports editor of the school paper the Bulldog Bulletin and is looking at Ohio University and the University of Akron, where he’ll continue his running career.
miller@vindy.com